Honoring Animals that have served on the War and home fronts

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MISSION STATEMENT: To honor animals that have served with Armed Forces in wartime, and first responders and other military organizations on the home front where their stories, and their valiant human handlers, will be appreciated and recognized for generations to come. 

First in the world:  Filled with galleries, displays, interactive exhibits, events, statues and artifacts relating to war service animals, these exhibits will become a destination for people young and old to experience and appreciate the role animals have played in military history throughout the world. Many of their stories will also be told through creative and novel exhibits, including old film footage for a meaningful media experience. 

TRAVELING EXHIBITS: As we build our artifacts collection and displays, we will start small with traveling exhibits around the country. If someone is interested in displaying our traveling exhibit, please reach out to Robin Hutton, waranimals@yahoo.com.

Our goal for the brick-and-mortar Museum will also feature:

Service Animals Exhibit: A section of the museum will be dedicated to service animals: how they provide wonderful healing and support to people with PTSD, and other emotional/physical disorders.

Sculpture Garden: A sculpture garden will be offered where people can relax in the presence of the animal heroes. 

Children’s Art Gallery: An annual national contest will be held for students’ artwork of their favorite service animal, a story and reason why they chose that animal. The award winners art will be recognized and displayed in an exhibit and published in a book available to the public. All participants will receive a Certificate of Thanks & Appreciation.

Community and Interactive Events: Military working and police dogs can provide demonstrations. Therapy dogs and horses can exhibit their work with PTSD or handicapped children and adults. 

250+ Seat Theater: A state-of-the-art theater to play movies, have discussions or rent out for meetings/ceremonies. 

Gift Shop, Café and Rental Space: A gift shop will include quality educational toys, videos, books and creative merchandise for parents and children. The café will serve quality local produce from nearby farms. Rental space and a catering kitchen will be offered at the museum.

Affiliations: The goal is to become accredited through the American Alliance of Museums and become a Smithsonian Affiliate.  

Location and Build Out: To be located in the Washington, DC metropolitan region with a building to be determined by the collection of displays, artifacts and media.